Thrilling Victory: India clinched a record-extending fifth Asian Champions Trophy title with a narrow 1-0 victory over hosts China on Tuesday. In a fiercely contested final, the Indian team battled hard against a spirited Chinese side determined to make a statement. Jugraj Singh, who came on as a substitute, broke the deadlock in the final quarter, securing India’s supremacy in Asia. Jugraj’s rare field goal came at a crucial moment when India’s other stars struggled to get past China’s goalkeeper Wang Weihao.
Despite being ranked 23rd, China put up an impressive fight against the top-ranked Indian team. The home side delighted their fans with a strong defensive display, holding India scoreless for the first three quarters. China showed promise and dominated possession but could not penetrate India’s defensive line.
China appeared shaky in the opening minutes, but India couldn’t capitalize on their early opportunities. The home crowd, out in large numbers, added pressure on India. As the match progressed, China grew more confident with the ball, though their off-ball intensity waned, allowing India to breach their defense and take shots. In the sixth minute, Sumit took the first clear shot on target, only to be denied by Weihao.
India’s first penalty corner came in the 10th minute, but Harmanpreet Singh couldn’t break through the Chinese defense. India earned another penalty corner after the ball struck a defender’s foot, but again, the opportunity was squandered. In the 14th minute, Weihao made a stunning save, leaving Sukhjeet in disbelief. Throughout the first quarter, the Chinese goalkeeper stood firm, preventing India from scoring.
In the second quarter, India applied a high-line press and controlled possession, frustrating the Chinese players. Despite a few in-behind runs by Jarmanpreet Singh, China’s compact defense gave little room to maneuver. Skipper Harmanpreet, who had scored a brace against South Korea in the semifinals, missed several penalty corner chances. In the final moments of the first half, he came close, hitting the goalpost. A potential turning point came when Manpreet dribbled past the Chinese defense, only to be fouled by Weihao. India was initially awarded a penalty stroke, but China successfully challenged the decision, resulting in a free-kick instead. China’s deep defensive play hampered their attacking options, and they rarely threatened India’s goal.
China started the second half aggressively, putting India under pressure, but the Indian defense held strong. Coach Peter Fulton appeared animated on the sidelines as India made several errors, allowing China to break through on multiple occasions during the third quarter.
India’s relentless efforts to break the Chinese deadlock finally paid off with nine minutes and 34 seconds left in the match. Jugraj, the super-sub, made a massive impact by scoring the crucial goal. Captain Harmanpreet set up the goal as the Chinese defense finally crumbled under the constant pressure from the Indian forwards.
In the final minutes, China pushed hard for an equalizer, but the Indian defenders held firm, ensuring India won the Asian Champions Trophy for the fifth time.